Play mat

ABSTRACT

A play mat as an upper surface that comprises at least one pocket adapted such that at least one sheet bearing indicia may be removably positioned therein. When the play mat is in use the indicia are displayed to a user of the play mat. The play mat may have means to record, store and playback sounds. Activation of the playback of sounds may occur by pressing buttons located under the sheets of indicia.

The present invention relates to a play mat.

Play mats are popular toys for children, in particular babies. Play mats typically comprise a soft padded mat that has bright, colourful and possibly educational indicia printed upon it, such that whilst sitting on the mat the child may play games that incorporate the indicia.

However, as with any toy, owing to a lack of diversity in functionality a child may become bored with the mat and cease to play in a productive fashion.

The present invention seeks to address this issue.

According to the present invention there is provided a play mat having an upper surface that comprises at least one pocket, the pocket being adapted such that at least one sheet bearing indicia may be removably positioned therein such when the play mat is in use the indicia are displayed to a user of the play mat.

By providing at least one pocket adapted to display sheets comprising indicia when the play mat is in use, the play mat may be customized with different indicia, thereby allowing for a constantly changing surface on the play mat so as to keep a child's interest.

Preferably the play mat comprises a plurality of pockets.

By providing a plurality of pockets on the play mat different sheets of indicia are readily kept from moving by being held in a fixed position by a respective pocket.

Preferably the play mat comprises at least one means to store sound and at least one means to activate playback of a stored sound.

By providing means to store and activate playback of a sound the play mat may be used for educational and bonding purposes as the sounds stored and played back can correspond to the indicia that is being displayed.

Preferably the play mat comprises means to store a plurality of sounds and means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound chosen from the plurality of stored sounds.

By providing means to store and activate playback of a variety of sounds the play mat's functionality is enhanced.

Preferably at least one means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound is associated with a pocket. Preferably at least one means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound is located under a pocket. Preferably the means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound is pressure activated.

By associating the means to activate playback of a stored sound with a pocket the activation means is automatically associated with any sheet of indicia displayed by the pocket.

Preferably the play mat comprises a plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds chosen from the plurality of stored sounds.

By providing a plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds different sounds may be activated by different parts of the play mat.

Preferably the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are associated with at least one pocket. Preferably the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are located under at least one pocket.

Preferably the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are associated with a plurality of respective pockets. Preferably the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are located under a plurality of respective pockets.

Preferably the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound are pressure activated.

Preferably a plurality of pockets each comprise means to store sound and pressure activated means to activate playback of a stored sound.

Preferably the pocket or pockets each comprise a transparent protective window.

A protective window ensures that the sheet of indicia used with a pocket is not readily damaged during use of the play mat.

Preferably the means to store sound comprises means to record sound.

The provision of means to record a sound allows for a user to easily customize the output of the play mat.

A specific embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which exemplify the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain and illustrate principles of the invention. The examples given are intended to be illustrative and are not inherently restricted to particular apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a play mat made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-section of the play mat of FIG. 1 along section A-A.

Referring to the FIG. 1, a play mat 1 has an upper surface 2 that bears a plurality of pockets 3.

In the present embodiment play mat 1 comprises a covering in the form a quilted fabric. However, it will be apparent that play mat 1 may have a covering on its any upper and lower surfaces and sides of any suitable material such as a plastics, textile or rubber material. Play mat 1 may also have a core of any suitable padding material.

In the present embodiment pockets 3 comprise a textile surround 4 and a transparent window 5 formed from transparent plastics material—any appropriate transparent plastics material could be used.

In the case of each pocket 3, textile surround 4 is attached to covering 2 and also to transparent window 5 so as to hold window 5 in position at pocket 3.

Each pocket comprises an opening 6 so as to allow sheets of material bearing indicia such as photographs or printed cards to be inserted into and removed from pockets 3.

In some embodiments textile surround 4 at opening 6 may comprise a section of hook and loop fastening, with a corresponding section positioned on upper surface 2, allowing for opening 6 to be sealed.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, housed in respective chambers 12 located under each of pockets 3 are respective audio devices 7. Each audio device 7 is capable of recording a sound and playing the sound back via an inbuilt speaker (not shown). Each audio device 7 comprises a pressure-operated button 8 to activate playback of the sounds recorded thereon.

When positioned correctly within chambers 12 audio devices 7 are operable by means of pressure being transferred from upper surface 2 of play mat 1 to buttons 8, so as to activate playback of the sound recorded on the respective device 7.

Audio devices 7 are removable from play mat 1 via openings 9 in the rear 10 of play mat 1. Openings 9 are covered by flaps of fabric 11 that releasably attach to rear 10 of play mat 1 by means of hook and loop fastenings (not shown). Audio devices 7 and chambers 12 may also be provided with hook and loop fastening so as to retain devices 7 within chambers 12.

Audio devices 7 are powered by replaceable batteries (not shown). Audio devices 7 comprise a switch (not shown) to change the device between a state wherein it records a sound whilst pressure operated button 8 is held down and a state wherein when pressure operated button 8 is activated audio device 7 plays back the recorded sound.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that a suitable audio device with recording and playback functionality may be readily constructed without exercising any inventive effort—many appropriate arrangements would be possible.

In the present embodiment play mat 1 also comprises a pouch 12 formed of a textile material. Pouch 12 is suitable for storing sheets bearing indicia such as photos and printed cards for use with pockets 3.

Turning now to play mat 1 in use. A parent wishing to deploy play mat 1 may first remove an audio device 7 from its chamber 12 formed in rear surface 10. By switching the device to a recording state the parent may thereby record a word or sentence on the device 7. The parent may then switch the device to playback mode and replace it within chamber 12 such that pressure operate button 8 faces upper surface 2 of play mat 1.

Device 7 may be secured within chamber 12 by means of flap 11 being sealed over opening 9 to chamber 12 using a hook and loop fastener (not shown).

The parent may then insert a sheet bearing indicia (not shown) into the pocket 3 that is located above the respective audio device 7. For example, if they recorded the phrase ‘Hello, I′m Mummy’ the parent might insert a photograph of themselves into pocket 3. If they were to record the sound of a lion then a photograph or drawing of a lion might be inserted. Other members of a family might also record messages on other audio devices 7 and appropriate sheets inserted into the respective pockets.

Once each of audio devices 7 has a sound recorded on it and a sheet bearing appropriate indicia (for example a picture or word) positioned in corresponding pockets, play mat 1 is ready for deployment.

A child positioned on play mat 1 may view, through transparent window 5, the indicia on a sheet held in a pocket and exert pressure on a pocket and thereby play a sound that relates to the indicia the child is seeing.

Thus a play mat made in accordance with the present invention supports a child's development, in particular:

In particular the play mat encourages bonding and attachment to loved ones—photos allow children to begin to recognise the sound of, for example, grandparents, aunts, uncles, thus developing familiarity.

Furthermore, a play mat made in accordance with the present invention assists language acquisition. It is well documented that talking to, reading to, and singing to children at the youngest age helps with the acquisition of language. The play mat of the present invention allows even the youngest children to hear and see an object or person simultaneously and thus begin to understand meanings of words and how they sound.

In some embodiments audio devices may come pre-loaded with a variety of sounds corresponding to different indicia. In such embodiments a collection of sheets bearing corresponding indicia may be provided for use with the respective sounds.

In some embodiments instead of separate audio devices for each pocket, a central audio device may be provided allowing for recordal and playback of audio, with playback of different pre-selected sounds being activated by a plurality of respective buttons. The central audio device may comprise the only speaker in the play mat, although it is preferable if a speaker is associated with each pocket, preferably located under each pocket, as in the present embodiment, as this means that the sound played back comes from the area having the sheet bearing the indicia that are associated with sound.

In some embodiments it may be possible to load batches of audio files on to a device incorporated within the play mat by means of a personal computer, smart phone or other electronic device. Such programming of the play mat may be actioned wirelessly. Different batches of audio files might be loaded depending upon the age of the child.

In some embodiments a single large pocket might contain more than one button to activate playback of different sounds, the pocket allowing for the positioning of a plurality of sheets of indicia respectively over the plurality of buttons.

It will be apparent that the number of pockets and buttons to activate the playback of a sound may vary depending upon the size of the mat. Further, the upper surface of the mat may comprise a pattern such that, for example, the pockets appear as windows of a house, or apples on a tree, so as to enhance a child's experience of the mat.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims. 

1. A play mat having an upper surface that comprises at least one pocket, the pocket being adapted such that at least one sheet bearing indicia may be removably positioned therein such when the play mat is in use the indicia are displayed to a user of the play mat.
 2. The play mat of claim 1 comprising a plurality of pockets.
 3. The play mat of claim 1 or 2 comprising at least one means to store sound and at least one means to activate playback of a stored sound.
 4. The play mat of any preceding claim comprising means to store a plurality of sounds and means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound chosen from the plurality of stored sounds.
 5. The play mat of claim 4 wherein at least one means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound is associated with a pocket.
 6. The play mat of claim 4 or 5 wherein at least one means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound is located under a pocket.
 7. The play mat of any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound is pressure activated.
 8. The play mat of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds chosen from a plurality of stored sounds.
 9. The play mat of claim 8 wherein the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are associated with at least one pocket.
 10. The play mat of claim 8 or 9 wherein the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are located under at least one pocket.
 11. The play mat of any of claims 8 to 10 wherein the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are associated with a plurality of respective pockets.
 12. The play mat of any of claims 8 to 11 wherein the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of particular stored sounds are located under a plurality of respective pockets.
 13. The play mat of any of claims 8 to 12 wherein the plurality of means to selectively activate playback of a particular stored sound are pressure activated.
 14. The play mat of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of pockets each having means to store sound, at least one speaker to playback a stored sound and pressure activated means to activate playback of a stored sound.
 15. The play mat of any preceding claim wherein the pocket or pockets each comprise a transparent protective window.
 16. The play mat of any of claims 3 to 15 wherein the means to store sound comprises means to record sound.
 17. A play mat substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 